In this article I share some of my fun watercolor and pen techniques for making beautifully cheerful Holiday Cards. I also show you some of my favorite Pearl and Gold watercolor paints to use for glamorous upgrades and brush calligraphy.
Happy Holidays greeting card with white pearl and gold gleaming watercolors and gold UniBall pen highlights on handmade paper by artist Tristina Dietz Elmes.
Some of the things you will learn from this workshop include:
my favorite papers to use for watercolor greetings;
my favorite blank greeting card size;
where to find holiday images for inspiration;
the importance of practicing designs before painting holiday cards;
techniques for water control, layering and painting details;
hand calligraphy reference books and practice tricks;
finishing ideas with sparkle watercolors and pens;
and more…
Practice warm up sketches, watercolors and inking details for holiday motifs on paper by Tristina Dietz Elmes.
Holiday Greeting Cards in Watercolors and Sparkle Workshop Video Replay
Below is the full video workshop of my Live painting session. The paints, surfaces and accessories used in the video are listed afterwards in this article. Enjoy! 🎨
Here are the video timeline sections if you want to jump to a particular part of the live session:
0:00:00 - Intro To Holiday Greeting Cards
As mentioned during the workshop, here are the reference photo websites I like to use for royalty free images:
https://pixabay.com/
https://unsplash.com/
https://www.pexels.com/
Brush Calligraphy practice of Holiday Greetings with Schmincke Aqua Bronze gold watercolor paint by Tristina Dietz Elmes.
Here are the main QoR paint colors I used for this workshop: Ultramarine Blue, Manganese Blue, Phthalo Green, Hookers Green, Green Gold, Quin Scarlet, Quin Crimson, Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Natural Brown Umber
In addition, I used Winsor & Newton Cerulean Blue watercolor and Daniel Smith Titanium White watercolor stick.
Feel free to ask me any follow-up questions in the comments below. Thanks for watching! 😍
Merry & Bright Snowman with lights painting in ink and watercolors on paper and mounted on a blank greeting card by artist Tristina Dietz Elmes.
Supplies List for Holiday Greetings in Watercolors and Sparkle Workshop
Here are links to the books and supplies list for the papers, paints and accessories shown during the video. As a Blick Affiliate and Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases for links below that lead to Blick Art Materials or Amazon.
Walter Foster Creative Lettering and Beyond Softcover (2014) - https://amzn.to/3XX5cbr
Speedball Textbook Guide to Pen and Brush Calligraphy 24th Edition Spiral Bound Softcover Includes 3 Calligraphy Pens (not permanent ink) - https://amzn.to/4rOqpBY
Learning Calligraphy by Margaret Shepard Plastic Comb Bound (1978) - https://amzn.to/48EDeHI
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Sennelier Mini Travel Watercolor Set of 8 Colors - https://amzn.to/4pH1ten
QoR Watercolors on Blick - https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-101491996-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fproducts%2Fqor-modern-watercolors%2F
Kristy Rice Paintcrush Empty Watercolor Palettes in Different Styles - https://amzn.to/4o9ZxJB
Winsor & Newton Watercolor Cerulean Blue 14ml Tube - https://amzn.to/4q3bL8e
Daniel Smith Watercolor Titanium White 12ml Stick - https://amzn.to/3KY0hUG
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Starry Colors Set of 6 - https://amzn.to/3L15F9y
Schmincke Aqua Bronze Rich Gold Powder - https://amzn.to/48Cwytw
Copic Opaque White 6ml Bottle with Applicator Brush - https://amzn.to/4azK1DZ
Dr. PH Martins Bleed Proof White 1oz Jar - https://amzn.to/49zfjJ1
Sakura Micron Pigma Permanent Markers Various Sizes and Colors Plus Sets on Blick - https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-101491996-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fproducts%2Fsakura-pigma-micron-pen%2F
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens Metallic Set of 10 - https://amzn.to/4iXuJe1
Uni Signo 207 Broad Tip Gel Pens (Metallic Shimmer Colors) Set of 10 - https://amzn.to/4qe5MxI
Speedball India Ink and Dip Pens Set of 5 - https://amzn.to/4rUlLSW
Clear Empty Paint Pots with Lids 10ml Set of 25 - https://amzn.to/4abmetH
Blackwing Pencils 2B Lead with Erasers - https://amzn.to/4rJIUY8
Staedtler Mars White Erasers Set of 3 - https://amzn.to/4iJIw88
Jack Richeson Watercolor Paper Cold Press 135lb 4x6in 50 Sheets - https://amzn.to/3XX0nPn
Tumuarta 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper Cold Press 140lb 4x6in 30 Sheets - https://amzn.to/3XUU0fm
Leather Village 100% Cotton Handmade Watercolor Paper 140lb 4x6in 25 Sheets - https://amzn.to/4q1KmDM
Canson XL Coldpress Watercolor Paper Pad 140lb 9x12in 30 Sheets - https://amzn.to/488fvzr
Canson XL Coldpress Watercolor Paper Wire Bound 140lb 9x12in 30 Sheets - https://amzn.to/3Xh1n0n
Canson Graduate Black Mixed Media Paper 147lb 9x12in 12 Sheets - https://amzn.to/4qddqbB
Fabriano Mixed Media Paper Pad 135lb 9x12in 40 Sheets - https://amzn.to/4ahZFDE
Ohuhu White Blank Greeting Cards 5x7in and Envelopes Set of 100 - https://amzn.to/44OTV0K
iCraft Super Tape Double Sided Tape Various Widths - https://amzn.to/4qcq5eJ
Princeton Velvetouch Brushes Set of 4 - https://amzn.to/48oIZZR
Princeton Velvetouch 3/4in Mop Brush - https://amzn.to/44YrVaQ
Princeton Velvetouch 3/8in Blender Brush - https://amzn.to/4iGSreJ
Faber Castell Collapsible Tulip Edge Brush Holder Water Cup - https://amzn.to/3Pxxyon
Wood Brush Rest Stand Set of 2 Holds 4 Brushes Each - https://amzn.to/3OrurOi
My Recommended Cloth-Like Viva Paper Towels 3 Double Rolls - https://amzn.to/3EPZhOW
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Note that most of the list of supplies above can be found on the Blick Art Materials website and shipping is generally free for orders of $69 or more. Check them out here:
https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101492004-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2F
************************************If you would like to see other paints, mediums and art supplies that I recommend, click below to go to the Supply Links page on my website:
https://www.dietzart.gallery/supply-links
Or, check out art supply recommendations on my Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
https://www.amazon.com/shop/tristinadietzelmes
FREE Live Art Lessons Sunday Afternoons
SUNDAY afternoons I teach a FREE ART LESSON simulcast on YouTube Live and on the WhatNot auction platform followed by a giveaway and sale of my handmade artworks, gift items and some art supplies on WhatNot. You can follow the QR code appearing in the YouTube video or follow the Invite link in the video description to join me on WhatNot for some great Live Auction Art & Gifts deals.
If you're new to Whatnot, sign up with the following link and get $15 in Whatnot credit to use to shop on the platform:
https://www.whatnot.com/invite/tristi...
I hope you'll join me and the thriving Artisan community over on WhatNot soon!
Happy Holidays greeting card red poinsettia flower on cotton paper by Tristina Dietz Elmes;
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Happy Arting! 🎉